The UK’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has accused Russia of being behind a global disinformation campaign regarding the COVID-19 vaccines under development in the West.
On Friday he called it “reprehensible” and said this is a time that people should be coming together.
Raab told Sky News “Anyone basically trying to sabotage the efforts of those trying to develop a vaccine is deeply reprehensible and it’s pretty unacceptable and unjustified in any circumstances.”
It’s alleged that the campaign is targeting countries with high rates of the virus such as Indonesia, India, and Brazil. Analysts say it’s trying to undermine confidence in Western vaccines undergoing trials in favour of Russias Sputnik V vaccine.
A report from EUvsDisinfo said:
“This narrative is part of the on-going pro-Kremlin disinformation on coronavirus aiming to promote the Sputnik V vaccine and present Russia as a ‘leader in the COVID-19 management.”
The Kremlin has denied the allegations and said that the benefits of Russia’s vaccine are being “recognised in many countries’. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the accusation makes no sense and that Russia is not giving anyone false information.
